Rededicate 250

 

Just a few of the many wise words spoken at the Rededicate 250 rally in Washington today:

 (from a Facebook post - author unknown)

1.Donald Trump

Donald Trump read from 2 Chronicles 7:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

 

2. Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard askedAmericans to humble themselves before God.

She reflected on how America’s founders “didn’t stride forward in pride” but instead “knelt” and “asked for God’s mercy” just weeks before declaring independence.

“They asked for his guidance because they knew that the cause before them was beyond their own strength," Gabbard said. “Now, today, exactly 250 years later, we gather here on the National Mall to do the same, to give thanks, to ask for forgiveness, and to humbly ask once more for God's mercy and guidance as we enter the next 250 years of this Republic."

Gabbard also said leaders too often see themselves as “the controllers.”

“We lose sight of the fact that we are tiny, and our time on this planet is extremely short, and yet we see ourselves as the controllers competing with each other over who is number one,” she said. “But the truth is, there's only one number one, and that's God.”

 

3. Vice President JD Vance

Vance said America has “always been” and remains a “nation of prayer”, pointing to George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving proclamation, and argued that faith has been part of America’s identity since before the nation’s founding.

“The duty Washington describes to honor, obey, and give thanks to our creator was woven into America's character long before the founding,” Vance said. “… We have always been and still are a nation of prayer. And thank God for that. In times of suffering and in times of triumph, millions of Americans continue to turn to prayer and their faith in God.”

Vance also quoted the late Charlie Kirk while arguing America’s moral foundation is rooted in religion.

“As my dear friend, the late, great Charlie Kirk put it, all law reflects a morality. Neither law nor morality appears in a vacuum, but ultimately come from religion."

The vice president also praised what he described as a growing return to faith among young Americans, saying many are seeking “meaning,” “direction” and “closeness with God. Prayer is not merely something we do in times of crisis."

 

4. War Secretary Pete Hegseth

Hegseth said George Washington and his troops faced cold and starvation while the future of American independence appeared grim when they took refuge at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777.

As men began to desert, Washington wrote to Congress asking for help, writing that the army may starve, dissolve or disperse, according to Hegseth. But Congress could offer little help at that time.

Even Washington’s pastor had lost faith, according to Hegseth, writing to the general that he should surrender and ask forgiveness from the British king.

“But George Washington did not lose faith,” Hegseth said. "We know the painting of him at Valley Forge. One hangs in my office. Kneeling in the deep snow, his hat and sword nearby, Washington bows his head amid all the bleak nights, the loss and despair, the lack of proper support, George Washington performed a profound act. He prayed.”

“Let us pray as he did. Let us pray without ceasing. Let us pray for our nation on bended knee. And let us ask our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as Washington did on that momentous day.”

 

5. House Speaker Mike Johnson

“Heavenly Father, we thank you," Johnson said. "Thank you so much for this great day that you've given us here, and we remember that your mighty hand has been upon our nation since the very beginning."

Johnson reflected on the Revolutionary War and the founding of the U.S., noting that the Second Continental Congress held a day of “humiliation, fasting, and prayer” before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

"Just weeks later, Lord, on July 4th, 1776, you gave 56 patriots the courage and the conviction to sign their names to the Declaration of Independence, forming 13 distinct and disparate colonies into a new nation which would become, by your mercy and grace, the freest, most successful, most benevolent nation in the history of the world.”

“Our founders acknowledged and boldly proclaimed the self-evident truth that every single person is created in your image, and that we are endowed by you, our creator, with our unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

 

6. Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of Billy Graham

Lynch said Sunday that America “especially” needs God now, arguing America’s strength comes from faith and prayer with a foundation rooted in the belief “we need God.”

“For 250 years, this nation has returned again and again to the God who created this beautiful country that we get to call home. We do this not because we're perfect people. We're not. But woven into the fabric of America is a deep and persistent belief that we cannot persevere on our own — that we need God,” Lynch said.

Lynch argued America’s “true source of strength” is found “when we humble ourselves before God.”

 

7. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King

"This nation was founded on godly principles," King said. “We are one blood” and people of all races “can learn to live together as brothers and sisters.”

She also pushed back on the idea of a strict separation between church and state, saying “It's never a good idea to try to leave God out of anything.”

“It's time for us all to repent — to go to God and say we got it wrong, help us get it right”

 

8. Jonathan Roumie, actor playing Jesus in “The Chosen”

Roumie urged Americans to recommit to faith and the idea of being “one nation under God” and said prayer has been central to both his life and America’s identity.

“At the center of faith lies prayer,” Roumie said. “… Prayer is a kind of heavenly cargo shuttle, lifting our wants, our needs, and our gratitude toward heaven, open to anybody and everybody, willing to humble themselves at the feet of their creator, faithful and fallen alike."

Roumie said faith is essential to playing the role of Jesus “because if God hands you the assignment of portraying on a global stage his own son, the Savior of the world … and you do not have faith, Lord help you.”

“For 250 years we have endeavored to be one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. May we be that nation once more. May we rededicate ourselves to all that the Lord is calling us to these next 250 years. And may we, the citizens of the United States of America, never cease praying for our leaders, for each other, for our nation, and for the world.”

Something Big Is Happening

 

 This article is by Yehudah Glick - from Facebook

 

"Something very big is happening.

 

President Trump called on the Americans to dedicate a national Shabbat in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

 

Charlie Kirk has written a book calling people back to the Sabbath — not as a cultural accessory, not as nostalgia, but as a response to the spiritual exhaustion of our time.

And I don’t think this is small.

I think this is one of the most important religious developments happening in the West right now.

Because Shabbat is not just a “Jewish day off.”

Shabbat begins at the very beginning of the Hebrew Bible.

Before Sinai.

Before the Exodus.

Before the Jewish people are even formed as a nation.

At the end of creation itself, the Torah tells us:

God created the heavens and the earth — and then He rested.

That means Shabbat is built into the architecture of the universe.

It is the weekly testimony that the world has a Creator.

That man is not God.

That productivity is not the purpose of life.

That technology must have limits.

That family is sacred.

That time can be holy.

That the universe is not an accident.

That history is moving somewhere.

For thousands of years, the Jewish people carried Shabbat through exile, persecution, wandering, and darkness.

Every Friday night, in every land, Jews lit candles and declared quietly — sometimes against the entire world — that Hashem is the Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel, Jerusalem, and Zion, the King of the universe.

And now something remarkable is happening.

The nations are beginning to hear the music of Shabbat.

Not perfectly.

Not fully.

Not always with the same language or the same obligations.

But they are hearing it.

They are beginning to understand that a world without Sabbath becomes a world without soul.

A world without Sabbath becomes a world of noise, screens, markets, anxiety, loneliness, and endless motion.

A world without Sabbath forgets its Creator.

And this is exactly what the prophet Isaiah saw.

Isaiah spoke of a future in which the “foreigners who join themselves to Hashem” would honor His covenant and keep Shabbat.

He saw a time when the House of God would be called:

“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

This is not the erasure of Israel’s unique covenant.

It is the opposite.

It is the light of Israel beginning to shine outward.

It is the nations recognizing that the God of Israel is not a tribal deity, not a private inheritance, not a symbol of the past — but the Creator of heaven and earth, the King of the universe.

That is why this moment matters.

When political leaders speak about Shabbat, when Christian voices call people back to Sabbath, when non-Jews begin to recognize the holiness of sacred time — I see more than a cultural trend.

I see an echo of redemption.

I see the world, tired and broken, slowly remembering the first truth:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

And if the world can remember the Creator, perhaps it can also remember the purpose of creation.

Shabbat is not an escape from the world.

Shabbat is the world as it was meant to be.

Peace.

Faith.

Family.

Holiness.

Creation returning to its Source.

May this awakening grow.

May the nations come closer to Hashem.

May Israel embrace its calling with courage and love.

May Jerusalem and Zion become a light to all peoples.

And may the whole world come to know the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — the Creator of the world, the God of Israel, the King of the universe.

This is huge.

And I believe we are only seeing the beginning."

 

And I pray it is so, Gail-Friends.  My prayer is for all in Israel, America, and the world to return to Adonai's Word, His Will, and His Ways - and to accept Yeshua as the Messiah and Savior.  

National Day of Prayer 2026

 

 Today, May 7 is the National Day of Prayer, which was declared in 1952.  Let us all praise and thank Almighty God for the blessing of being born and raised in this wonderful country.  The prayer event is being held in Washington D.C. and televised on Fox and other national outlets.  If you cannot see it live, you can see it later on YouTube.

My prayer today is for Americans to return to His Word, His Will, and His Ways. I am 75 years old and went to public schools during the 1950s and 1960s.    How blessed we were to have public schools that had the Ten Commandments on the walls of our classrooms.  How blessed we were to have Bible reading and prayer during our home room sessions.  How blessed we were to have teachers who were not afraid to speak of their faith during their teachings.  How blessed we were to live in an era that respected and honored and obeyed God's Word.

I pray that the future years will be a Golden Era of blessings.  He has blessed me and I pray He will bless us all with health, strength, vision, and purpose in our remaining years on this earth.

I pray and believe in the Name of Yeshua, the Messiah.  Amen

I recommend the International Intercessors of America website for many prayer resources you can use:

https://ifapray.org/blog/national-day-of-prayer-today 

 

A Prayer for America

 

 Heavenly Father – we praise You and thank You for protecting, providing, and guiding us through another week. And we thank You for Your Holy Shabbat. May You be pleased with our rest and our obedience to Your command.

We praise You that You hold the universe in Your mighty hands. We praise You for Your mighty works and for Your mercy on us. We are tiny compared to Your universe . . . and yet, You think on us and care for us. How blessed we are to have Your Spirit to comfort us and Your Word to guide us. Thank You for preserving it over thousands of years. Thank You for those in Israel who guarded, protected, and preserved it. Thank You for life in America. Thank You for shedding Your grace on our country.

Thank You for our Messiah, Yeshua – our Passover Lamb. Thank You for the blood that atones for our sins. This week, as I read the Torah portion about how much blood was required for atonement, I am once again humbled. I’m reminded how important the blood was. Sin is costly. Thank You that we don’t have to bring an animal and shed its blood. It’s easy to gloss over it – take it for granted or lightly, but Yeshua’s sacrifice was difficult and costly – just like the Temple sacrifices. It cost a lot for a man to bring his best, precious animal to sacrifice. But that’s what You required. Thank You that Yeshua, Your only precious son who was willing to give His blood for us. Our Passover seder brings it to our remembrance each year. We need that reminder. We praise You that He is risen from the grave. Our Passover Lamb – our Risen Lord and Savior. Haleluyah to Your Name, Adonai. Forever we will give You praise.

This week, we pray for our president, his cabinet, our lawmakers, and our military. We pray for our senators to have opened eyes and ears to see and do the right thing as they vote on funding for the DHS. Open the eyes and ears of Democrat voters to see how demonic it is to punish TSA workers and ICE agents by denying them payment for their work to protect our citizens. Bring them to their senses, Father.

We pray for the war with Iran to stop. We pray for all affected by this war. For all of the countries involved. For the military. For those who’ve lost loved ones. For those who’ve lost homes through the bombings. War is horrible. Help and comfort them all, Father.

And we pray especially for the peace of Jerusalem. I pray for the Israeli leadership to return to Your Torah. I once heard Netanyahu say that he depends on the Torah observance of the Hassidics to protect Israel. Open his eyes, as well as President Trumps eyes, to the fact that Adonai holds countries and leaders accountable for their sins against You. I read that just this morning in Leviticus 4.

Father, I ask forgiveness for my country and its leaders who have thrown Your Torah behind their backs. I did so when I was ignorant of Your laws. Church leaders taught that it was no longer applicable. They were wrong. Many people are ignorant of Your Word and wonder why their lives are such a mess. I was one of them. My reading of the New Testament letter of I John taught me the truth. A close study of the words of Yeshua in the gospels opened my eyes. When I began to obey Your laws, my life turned around. I am blessed beyond measure. I will thank You and praise You forever.

On this day, Father, grant us Your peace and rest as we turn away from the world and draw near to You. You are our God. You are our Lord. You are our King. You are our Deliverer. Haleluyah forever.

May Your face shine upon us. Blessed be You, our loving Father. Thank You for drawing near to us on this, Your holy day. We pray, and believe, in the mighty name of Yeshua our Messiah and Savior. Amain. 

 

REDEDICATE AMERICA

 

This article is from the website for Liberty Counsel  www.lc.org

President Trump Calls To “Rededicate America” Back to God

Feb 9, 2026

Last week, President Donald Trump announced at the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast that on May 17, 2026, there will be a major prayer event held on the National Mall to “rededicate America as one nation under God.”

The special prayer event is part of America’s 250th birthday celebration titled, “Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving.” The 12-hour sacred dedication event promises that “In speech, song, and storytelling, we will bear witness to the extraordinary story of how God has powerfully and wonderfully shaped the United States of America — remembering the people, sacrifices, and defining moments in which God has powerfully manifested Himself in our history.”

President Trump has invited Americans from across the country to come together on the National Mall on that day to pray, praise, and give thanks. During the announcement, he noted a spiritual renewal and rising church attendance in America. He praised this trend declaring that “to be a great nation…you have to have faith” and “you have to have God.”

While President Trump did not specify the reason May 17 was chosen, the Continental Congress had declared May 17, 1776, a national day of fasting and prayer before the Founders signed the Declaration of Independence.

“Almost 250 years after our Founding Fathers took one of the greatest leaps of faith in human history…it reminds us that prayers strengthen, prayers heal, prayer empowers and prayer saves,” said President Trump. “Quite simply, prayer is America’s superpower.” 

In his hour-long speech, President Trump also made a second announcement that the Department of Education has new guidance intended to protect the right of teachers and students to pray and express their faith in public schools.

“Public schools must permit students to pray privately and quietly by themselves, whether in class, at an athletic event, or before a meal,” reads the guidance. “Students may also pray in a speaking voice on the same terms as any other student might engage in non-religious speech.”

The new guidance also stipulated that students must be allowed to express their religious faith in assignments, and at school events when they are permitted to speak. Also, school employees can pray at work on the same terms as the students, states the guidance.

The Department of Education ultimately directed schools take a “general principle of neutrality toward religion” as not to prefer or discriminate between religious and secular groups, activities, or expression. 

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “We welcome President Trump’s call to national prayer and to rededicate our nation back to God as it approaches its 250th anniversary.  President Trump’s announcements convey the foundational truth that faith and freedom go hand in hand in our nation. Furthermore, every individual—whether teacher, student, or citizen—retains the right to pray, to express their beliefs, and to live out their faith without fear of government censorship.”

Praying for My Beloved Country

 

Gail-Friends, please join me in prayer for America.  You can add your prayers AND praises in the comments below. It's important to know the truth about what's going on, so please see my posts about alternative news outlets.  We are in a war between good and evil.  There is violence in our streets.  Our leaders and law-makers need our prayers and support - President Trump and his cabinet, the congress, courts, city, county, and state officials. Our peace-keepers need our prayers and our support - police, state troopers, sheriffs, military, national guard, and especially ICE.

We believers are called to fight in this war, too.  Please see my previous posts about our spiritual weapons: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT.

Dear Heavenly Father – We praise You and give You all glory, honor, and praise. Even when things look dark and hopeless, we cling to You, our Rock! As we watch the demonic chaos in the streets of Minneapolis and other cities, we REMEMBER to cast down imaginations, and every thought that exalts itself against Your Truth. Blessed are You, oh Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of all and Master of all. You are in control no matter how dark things seem. You hear our prayers, and we know that You have not given us a spirit of fear...but of peace, and love, and power through Your Holy Spirit. HALELUYAH!

We praise and thank You for the good things we’ve seen over the past week:

The truths that are coming out about paid protesters in Minneapolis and other cities, and for the work of independent journalists who are boldly going where the mainstream media will not go. God, we pray for their protection.

For the gift of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump by Venezuala’s Maria Corina Machado for his "unique commitment" to Venezuela's freedom and his actions in support of their cause (following U.S. involvement in the ousting of Nicolás Maduro). HALELUYAH! He is a man of peace, having helped to end eight wars over the past year.

Thank You, Father, that President Trump was able to influence Iran not to kill 800 anti-government protesters. We pray for peace in Iran.

HALELUYAH! America’s economy is improving: gas prices and mortgage rates dropped, and the trade deficit hit a 16-year low, attributed to President Trump’s trade policies.

Thank You, Father, that changes are being made related to children’s vaccines, costs of medicines, and healthy diet /food guidelines. We pray for President’s new health care plan to be favored and passed by the Congress.

We give You glory, Father!

Lord, I pray along with everyone here for accountability for those who have tried to steal, kill, and destroy our beloved country. We pray for these traitors to be prosecuted and brought to justice. It is time, Father, for the TRUTH to be told.

We pray for our Supreme Court judges as they hear oral arguments related to transgender athlete bans - to make a wise, common sense, scientific, and Biblical decision. And I pray for every judge that makes any decisions that are against Your Word, Will, and Ways to be removed – from the highest to the lowest court.

We pray about the elections coming in the months ahead… for godly, righteous  men and women to run and be elected to office.

We pray for all election fraud to be revealed and prosecuted.

Father as I watch the news, I ponder how many people there are who fight against what President Trump is doing to save our country. You spoke this to my heart :

They cannot see or hear spiritually. They never will see and hear what you see and understand – UNLESS AND UNTIL they (like the prodigal son) come to their senses. They see through the eyes of pride – wanting and doing their own will and ways...just as you once did...until you were humbled. Just like the prodigal son when he woke up in a pig pen and covered with their waste. He came to his senses and said to himself, I will go to my fathers house. You did the same.

Yes, Father, thank You for Your patience with me and for You bringing me to my senses. So I pray for blinded eyes, deaf ears, and foolish or evil hearts to be humbled – for them to come to their senses, repent (turn to Your Laws, Will, and Ways), and to recognize Yeshua as our only payment for turning our backs on you. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life – and I pray for a burning fire in myself and everyone here to share this truth. Give us divine appointments to share the Torah and Yeshua.

I pray this blessing over my Gail-Friends:

The Lord bless you and keep you; 

the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Pray for America

 

God laid this prayer on my heart last week as I watched the insanity in Minnesota**:

 

No matter how dark the day, GOD'S light shines through. He encourages us to see from a heavenly perspective, with HOPE.

 

Father, we call for Your warring angels to come between the violent demonic forces and our ICE agents to protect and defend them.

 

We pray for the demonic mission to steal, kill, and destroy to be defeated in every state.

 

We pray for the eyes of the blind to SEE - our beloved America is turning away from "lawlessness" to "lawfulness" - not only civil law, but Your holy, righteous law.

 

May Your Word, Your Will, and Your Ways reign in America, and may the Golden Era be the bright and and shining way of holiness.

 

Today, I read of  a national call to prayer from Franklin Graham:

If you think our nation is in trouble now, just wait… As our streets boil over with hate, anger, crime, drugs, and just sheer hopelessness, is there something we can do? You bet there is.

 

I would like to call for a time of prayer and repentance this Wednesday, January 14, at 12:00 noon.

As a nation, our sins are so great. We have increasingly turned our backs on God and His commands, embracing godless secularism. We need to ask His forgiveness and seek His face.

 

Pray for our leaders, and pray that God would bring calm to our streets.

 

There are many who would like to stir things up—there are even those who would like to destroy this great country. Pray that these efforts would be thwarted and their plans would be brought into confusion.

 

Ask God to use His Church to be His instruments of peace in this time of great uncertainty.

 

Remember, this Wednesday at noon, please stop and pray. Millions of people remembering our sins and asking for forgiveness, repenting, and seeking His face will make a difference.

 

Let’s humble ourselves. Let’s give God the glory for this great nation and thank Him for His hand of blessing, protection, and mercy.

 

~~~~~~

** Please watch this news from independent journalist Nick Shirley on YouTube:  

 This is a much bigger scandal than Watergate, and it's being brushed under the rug by the news media. I believe the protests against ICE are paid for by evil people who are intent on destroying our country. Also, I believe they are to deflect attention from the scandal exposed by the Nick Shirley video.  That scandal is only the tip of the iceberg of fraud and abuse in other states, which is in the billions of dollars.  

 

 If you don't follow the national news, or if you only watch the alphabet news outlets (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN) you won't see what's really happening.  I recommend FOX, Right Side Broadcasting, and other conservative outlets on "X" (formerly Twitter).   Please read this post about alternative outlets

A Pivotal Time in History

 

 

 Be aware. This is a pivotal time in history. 

 

 God is moving. 

 

 Demons are stirred up, causing violence and mass shootings.

 

 Fear not! Pray.

 

 And believe that God is in control. 

 

 Repent -- Turn back to God's Word, Will, and Ways -- Obey His commandments.

 

 He has shed His grace on America. 

 

 Pray for traitors to be revealed and brought to justice. 

 

 And pray for a new Golden Era of holiness and obedience.

 

From General Flynn on X: "They (@BarackObama and his gang of subversives) betrayed their oath and sold out their country. That’s treason and they know it. This isn’t about politics. It’s about right and wrong, good versus evil. They chose evil. They thought they could hide behind power, titles, and media cover. The truth always comes out, and when it does, the American people will know every single name of those involved in subverting our Nation from within. It’s only a matter of time before accountability hits their doorstep. There is NO escape.

And there must be ACCOUNTABILITY. "

Let's Do This

 

  

WOW. What a powerful moment from President Trump’s rally. HUD Secretary Scott Turner took the stage and spoke words this country desperately needs to hear right now.  He said:

 

“Think about this. What if 1 million people prayed for our country every single week between now and next July 4th?”

 

“What if believers all across this great nation got together with 10 people…10 people each week, to pray for our country and our fellow citizens? Let that sink in.”

 

“1 million people, every single week…think about the miracles that would take place over the next year. Think about the transformation you and I could witness.”

 

“Families coming back together, health being restored, financial needs being met, mountains being moved. THINK ABOUT IT. If a million of us, every week, got together…how many know that God is well-able to do it? Amen.”

 

⸻

This is exactly the kind of leadership we need: calling America back to faith, back to family, and back to prayer. The elites in Washington and Hollywood laugh at the idea of prayer. They mock Christians for putting our trust in God. But deep down, we know the truth—this nation has only stood as long as it has because of the prayers of the faithful.

 

We’re in a cultural and spiritual battle. The left wants to erase faith from the public square, rewrite history, and replace God with government. But the American people are hungry for something real, something eternal. Imagine the power if one million of us committed to pray every week. That’s not politics. That’s not policy. That’s raw, unshakable faith in action.

 

Think about it:

 

• A million people lifting up this country to God.

• A million voices asking for healing, protection, and revival.

• A million Americans standing together in unity, not division.

 

That would move mountains. That would shake Washington. That would bring families, churches, and communities back to life.

 

And let’s be honest, this is what terrifies the establishment most. Because when the people of God rise up in prayer and unity, no political machine, no corrupt bureaucracy, no media empire can stand against it.

⸻

This isn’t just about prayer… it’s about action. Prayer leads to courage. Courage leads to community. And community leads to real, lasting change.

 

President Trump is giving believers across this country the microphone. He’s showing that faith still matters. He’s reminding us that the answer isn’t in another government program or another bureaucrat’s desk—it’s in God Almighty, and in His people standing together.

 

So let’s do it. Let’s take Scott Turner’s challenge seriously. Between now and July 4th, gather your friends, your family, your church, your neighbors. Ten people each week. One million Americans crying out for our country.

 

This could be the beginning of the greatest revival America has seen in generations.

(source: Facebook) 

Golden Cottage Happenings

 

Greetings Gail-Friends!

We've been busy bees around Golden Cottage, so I have lots of good news and praises.

Jem and I celebrated nineteen years of happy marriage in May.  I am so thankful for my husband.  I know I go on and on about how wonderful he is, but he really is the best husband in the whole wide world.  I ask him sometimes, "How did I deserve such a good husband?"  He always says, "You said 'yes'!"  I often think how different my life could have been if I'd recognized his amazing qualities  way back when we dated fifty-plus years ago.   

I received a lovely bouquet of flowers that day and, here we are in June, and they are still giving me JOY!

My gift to him was a shopping trip to Ollie's (GOOD STUFF, CHEAP!) to pick out stuff for Golden Cottage Garden.  He found a nice ceramic pot the yellow-ish one with pink flowers and a flamingo wind chime. When we first married, we would buy a wind chime on our anniversary, but we ran out of places to put them (or they fell apart, etc.) So, we're starting a new tradition -- buying something for the garden. The flags were placed there for Flag Day.

 

We went out to an authentic Mexican dinner at a new place in Cocoa Village.  Jem really enjoyed the meal, but it was way to spicy for me, so never again!!! But we enjoyed our time together, and walked around the village shops afterward. We found a new business - an old-timey butcher shop called The Forgotten Block. They have fresh meats, cut to your order, as well canned preserves, salsa, jellies and jams. Jem bought this for his breakfast biskits.  

 We enjoyed our stroll because the weather was perfect that day - warm with a nice breeze off the river. 

 A perfect day in paradise!! 

Another part of our anniversary celebration was our vacation to the Florida Folk Festival and, as always, it was great.  It was really, really hot, but the festival always prepares for that.  Big fans are placed at each venue, and free ice-cold water is available in coolers in each area.  The stages are all covered by tents or shade.   But, this year I decided to be even more prepared for the heat.  We had neck fans!!  Wow - they are amazing!  And they are re-chargeable!

 

 

I also bought some new clothes - all linen or cotton/linen blend.  This makes a remarkable difference.  I had a good time shopping online for the clothes.  Had to return / exchange some, but I discovered a whole new way to shop.  And I love it!!!

Speaking of online shopping, we now order most of our food and supplies using our Walmart+ benefit.  They deliver for FREE if you sign up for the program. You do have to do a minimum order, but that's not hard to do for us.   It really is a help when we have to order heavy stuff like twenty-pound bags of birdseed and Black Cow for the garden.  It's helpful, too, for the heavy kitty litter jugs.  We love it.  

And...we're getting excited because Aldi is coming to our neighborhood in August.  It is much closer than Walmart, so we'll be using it a lot.  I like to order everything I can from them and then order the remainder from Walmart.

  Golden Cottage Garden is doing really well with flowers.  My peace plants are blooming, but again, the weather conditions are affecting them.   Our grass looks bad, but Jem's working on it. We'd bought some stuff that was supposed to help fill in the bare spots, but it only made it worse.  Gardening is hard in Zone 9 of Florida.  We're near the coast, too, so that plays into it.  And our soil is pure sand, so we decided to just do pots.  Jem works so hard in the yard and he amazes me with his strength.  He'll be seventy-nine soon and yet he keeps going like the energizer bunny.  I tell him he's a tough old bird.

 Here are a few pics - Jem had decorated with flags. 

 

The peace plants are doing okay, but not as good as in the past.  The heat is brutal.

 

The zinnias are so pretty.

I bought a package of wild flower seeds, and this is all that came up.  I don't know what it is, but it's so pretty.

 Veggies - not so much.  I picked my first lettuce harvest.  It was enough for a salad. But our other veggies have not produced - peas, squash, zucchini, and peppers did not work out.  I don't know if it was the seeds or the heat or the rain, but the lettuce is the only one that made it. :(

 Jem and I have started a healthy-eating plan and veggies are a big part of it, so we load up with those when we shop.  I feel so good when I stay away from sugar and prepared foods.  We are getting healthier and losing a few pounds at the same time.  

This is my favorite lunch these days - turkey, cheese, and pickle wraps with veggies on the side.

Well, Gail-Friends, I'm going to close out 'cause this post is getting long.  I've got more to share - like what we saw and did at the Florida Folk Festival, our grandson's concerts, and what's new with Toonie and Lucy. Oh, and I never did post about our Passover and Shavoat celebrations.  I'll be back soon.

Blessings to you all. 

 

 

Let's Join in The National Day of Prayer

 

Today is the National Day of Prayer! I hope you will join me and others in this annual day of praying for our country.  Let's also praise God for all of the blessings He has poured out on us this year.  We now have a president who is keeping his promises:  reducing illegal immigration, uncovering fraud, waste, and abuse in our government, working to make us energy independent again, and so much more.  We have had so many prayers answered since January 20.  You can watch his address here:  https://www.rsbnetwork.com/video/live-president-trump-participates-in-national-day-of-prayer-event-5-1-25/

 

Here is information and a prayer for today:

 

2025 Theme: Pour out to the God of hope and be filled. 

 

2025 Verse: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13 ESV

 

2025 National Prayer:

God of hope, fill us with all joy and peace

in believing, so that we will abound in

hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

You have caused us to be born again to

a living hope through the resurrection of

Jesus Christ from the dead; therefore,

we hope in what we do not see.

This world is not our home or reality,

but the Lord is our Rock,

our Truth, our certainty.

 

God of hope, we pour out our praise

and are filled with Your powerful presence.

 

We pour out repentance of sin and are filled

with forgiveness and righteousness.

 

We pour out pain from the attacks of the

enemy—anxiousness, fear, anger—and You

fill us with courage, assurance, and love.

 

We pour out our needs, the desires of our

hearts, and are filled with Your Kingdom

provision and purpose.

 

We pour out our hearts for our nation, for

the people and places, relationships and

responsibilities the Lord has established: the

Church, Family, Education, Business,

Military, Arts, Entertainment, Media, and

Government. May all who live, serve, and

steward in these be filled with Your purpose,

wisdom, strength, and truth.

 

Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon

us, as we have hoped in You.

In abounding hope, anchored by our hope

in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!

 

Written by National Day of Prayer Task Force President, Kathy Branzell

Find a local prayer gathering or watch the national observance broadcast tonight (8 pm ET) at nationaldayofprayer.org.

A Prayer for President Trump and America

 

Oh, how I praise Almighty God! Prayers are being answered within the last three day since the inauguration. Please join me in this prayer:

 

"We praise You, Adonai, for your power. We’ve watched You preserve and protect Donald Trump for such a time as this. May your angels continue to surround him today and in the days ahead as he makes decisions that will rock the country and the world. 

 

Glory to YOU, Lord! All glory and praise to You for letting us be alive to see Your mighty works in the days ahead. We agree that the Golden Era is beginning.

 

We pray for a revival of righteousness - holiness --obedience to Your will, Your ways, and Your Word.

Please give us ALL Your strength to continue to do the right thing. Thank You for giving us Donald Trump as a role model. He has held steadfastly to his mission — to make America Great Again -- to stand up for truth and justice.

 

We pray for him to daily seek Your face and Your Word and that his vision will spread throughout the world.

 

May Your Kingdom come soon, and Your will be done through each of us.

 

We pray and believe in the name of Yeshua our Messiah.